JYJ (also known as JUNSU/JEJUNG/YUCHUN in Japan) is a three member pop group, formed by three former members of South Korean boybandTVXQ: Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu. Their band name is taken from the first letters of each members’ names. Their debut Japanese language EPThe… reached No. 1 on the Japanese Oricon albums chart.[1] The band’s English language global debut album, The Beginning, was released in October 2010. JYJ followed up in January 2011 with another EP in the format of a “Music Essay” entitled “Their Rooms “Our Story”.” The group is currently working on their first Korean language album to be released later this September.

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History

2009: Lawsuit with SM Entertainment

In mid-2009, the three members who were to become JYJ filed a lawsuit against their South Korean record label, SM Entertainment, arguing that the 13-year length and structure of their exclusive contracts as well as the terms of profit distribution were unilaterally disadvantageous towards the artists and should be invalidated. The Seoul Central District Court in October 2009 ruled in favor of JYJ affirming their right to independently engage in entertainment activities and granted JYJ’s injunction suspending the JYJ-SM contract; its ruling emphatically pointed out it was a “subjugating contract” with terms that are grossly incompatible with Korean labor and contract law.[2] The three members of JYJ continued TVXQ activities in Japan for over half a year after the filing of the injunction until their Japanese agency, Avex, announced a group hiatus in early 2010.

2010: Debut as JYJ

The three-member group was announced in April 2010 by Rhythm Zone, a sub-label of Avex.[3][4] The group performed two rounds of lives: their four-day Thanksgiving Live in Dome at Osaka Dome and Tokyo Dome concerts in June,[3] and performances at the nation wide A-Nationtour throughout August.[5] The group’s debut release, the extended play The…, was released in September 2010, and debuted at number one on Oricon albums charts.[1] The DVD for their Thanksgiving Live in Dome concert sold 116,000 copies and their album The… sold 140,000 albums in the first week after being released, with both debuting at No. 1 on the Oricon DVD and album charts in the same week.[6]

In September 2010, Avex Entertainment announced the suspension all of JYJ’s Japanese activities.[4] Avex claims this stems from issues the label had with the president of the group’s Korean management, C-JeS Entertainment.[4] JYJ stated it was a conflict over new terms demanded by Avex in contract renegotiation.

The group released their English-language global debut album under Warner Music Asia, The Beginning, on October 12, with the Kanye West produced single “Ayyy Girl” as the lead track.[7] JYJ promoted the new album via a worldwide showcase tour throughout October and November with dates in South Korea, Southeast Asia and the United States.[8] Two weeks before the release of the album, 500,000 copies of the regular edition had been pre-ordered and pre-sales for the 99,999-copies of the special edition of The Beginning reached numbers of 400,000 requests.[9][10]

Despite visa issues almost causing the cancellation of their US tour, JYJ decided to continue with the tour and perform free concerts for their fans. 6,400 fans showed up at the New York show, including 3,400 that made it into the theater for the concert and an extra 3,000 that waited outside for JYJ to come back out.[11]

In spite of a JYJ ban in the Entertainment Departments of Korea’s three main terrestrial broadcasters,[12] JYJ had their first public broadcast performance in South Korea on December 31, 2010 at the 2010 KBS Drama Awards. They sung 찾았다 “Found You” – a ballad track from the drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal which starred Yoochun.[13]

2011: Minialbum and World Tour

JYJ released their extended play, Their Rooms, Our Story on January 25, 2011 in the format of a “music essay.” Despite the majority of sales being counted in the books rather than CD category, it sold well enough to chart on Hanteo.[citation needed]

In the spring of 2011, JYJ launched their first Worldwide Tour as a group with concerts held in Thailand, Taiwan, China, Canada, and the United States. They also held two special encore concert performances in South Korea: one in Busan and the other in Gwangju.[14]

The members are currently wrapping up their solo activities while working on their next album. JYJ’s Korean Album entitled ‘In Heaven’ after their title track will be released this September. [15]

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Other Activities

Endorsements

JYJ has endorsed Lotte Duty Free, Nature Republic, and South Korean clothing line NII. JYJ was among the Top 10 Highest Grossing Commercial Endorsement Stars of 2010 in South Korea.[16][17]

In July 2011 they were appointed as PR ambassadors for KEPCO (Korean Electric Power).

Humanitarian and Public Service Work

In August, 2011, at the 10th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific in Busan, South Korea, JYJ were appointed Goodwill Ambassadors for the United Nations agency UNAIDS.[18][19] JYJ and UNAIDS launched a social media awareness campaign to combat HIV/AIDS discrimination via Twitter using the hashtag #LoveAlways.[20]

JYJ has been active as honorary ambassadors of various government-run projects as the ‘faces of Korea.’ Along with Kim Yu-na, Park Ji Sung, Park Tae-Hwan, and Edward Kwon, JYJ was appointed to promote the 2010 G-20 Seoul Summit within South Korea.[21][22] JYJ was appointed as Goodwill Ambassadors for World OKTA (World Overseas Korean Trader’s Association) with President Lee Myung Bak present at the ceremony.[23][24] They were also appointed as Honorary Ambassadors for Jeju Island’s campaign to be designated one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

JYJ is also the face of the “2011 Protecting Personal Identity Information Campaign” launched by Korea Communication Commission and the Korea Internet & Security Agency which was aggressively promoted on print, radio, television, and cinema ads.[25]

Philanthropy

JYJ commemorated their inaugural group tour, The Beginning Showcase World Tour 2010, by donating the profits from the Seoul showcase to World Vision International.[26] The proceeds were taken from the opening two performances at the 11,000 seat Hwaseong Tiger Dome atKorea University which sold out in 15 minutes.[9][27]

Immediately after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, JYJ also donated ₩600,000,000 to World Vision Japan fulfilling the organization’s entire fundraising goal.[28] JYJ articulated that they wanted to give support and encouragement to Japan in return for all the love and support their Japanese fans have given them over the years. JYJ’s Junsu was also present in Tokyo filming for JYJ’s 3three Voices Season II during the earthquake. In addition, JYJ held 2 rounds of charity concerts in Toyko on June 7, 2011 to benefit those affected by the Tōhoku Earthquake.

JYJ performed at the first annual Asian Dream Cup organized by Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung‘s JS Foundation using their widespread popularity in Asia to help publicize the event. The proceeds of the charity match were donated to help sport development and support youth players in Vietnam as the JS foundation is seeking to expand its youth football development program and support cultural exchanges for football players around Asia.[29] As a part of this event, JYJ also participated in the one day soccer clinic with young Vietnamese athletes and 15 other star Korean and Japanese footballers. JYJ’s Kim Junsu, a soccer enthusiast and captain of the South Korean entertainers soccer club “FC Men”, played in the match as well.